Control for wringer rolls



P 6. 1966 RA. BRENNER ETAL 3,270,533

CONTROL FOR WRINGER ROLLS Filed Sept. 11. 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ELITE-.4 /7

United States Patent 3,270,533 CONTROL FOR WRINGER ROLLS Robert A. Brenner and Clifton A. Cobb, St. Joseph, and

Carrol A. Orr, Stevensville, Mich., assignors to Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Sept. 11, 1964, Ser. No. 395,687

7 Claims. (Cl. 68-244) This invention relates to improvements in a control for wringer rolls, and more particularly to an auxiliary or supplemental control to govern the rotation of wringer rolls, the invention being highly desirable for use in connection with wringers mounted on household washing machines, although the invention will have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

vThe conventional roll type wringer commonly used with household washing machines is customarily equipped with a pair of pivotal pressure released bars as a safety factor, the movement of which releases pressure between the rolls in the event an operator or some other person has fingers or a hand caught between the rolls. However, it may happen that the victim through pain, panic or hysteria may lose sufiicient presence of mind to actuate a release bar, and in such event it is emperative that the rolls at least stop or reverse the direction of rotation. In other instances, during normal operation of the wringer, it may become desirable to to reverse the direction of rotation of the wringer rolls without releasing the pressure on the rolls; for example, if there should be imminent danger of the rolls becoming blocked because of an overly thick or bulky load passing therebetween. It is also desirable in some cases to have a direct and simple control over the driving motor itself, rather than merely release roll pressure, because if roll pressure alone is released as in the case of actuation of a release bar, there may not be sufficient room between the rolls to avoid injury to whatever is passing between them.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a supplemental control for roll type wringers which will either cause reversal of direction of roll rotation or stop roll rotation upon a simple command or signal which may be either audible or mechanical in character.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a roll type wringer control which causes direction reversal or stoppage of the rolls in response to an audible command or screen of predetermined loudness.

A further and important object of this invention is the provision of control means in addition to the conventional pressure release bars of washing machine wringers, which control means governs the operation of the drive motor to cause a reversal or stoppage of the wringer rolls, thereby adding to the versatility of operation of the wringer. i

It is a further desideratum of this invention to provide an electrical control circuit for a washing machine wringer, which circuit includes the drive motor for the wringer, motor controlling means, and means to trigger the motor controlling means, which trigger means are responsive to a mechanical movement, or to a sound of predetermined level, or to both.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with thte accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic showing of a conventional washing machine equipped with a roll type wringer, and also equipped with control means embodying principles of the instant invention;

r lease bars, one on each side of the wringer.

3,270,533 Patented Sept. 6, 1966 FIGURE 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic end view of the wringer rolls and pressure release bars and showing portions of the instant invention;

FIGURE 3 is a schematic wiring diagram of an electrical circuit embodying principles of this invention;

FIGURES 4; 5, 6 and 7 are variations in schematic circuit diagrams, each of which embodies principles of the instant invention.

As shown on the drawings:

In FIGURE 1 we have shown a conventional washing machine 1 which is equipped with a clothes wringer frame 2 having superposed rolls 3 and 4 mounted therein, and which wringer frame is mounted upon a head 5 on a post 6, and the rolls are driven by a motor 7 which may or may not drive the washing machine proper, as the case may be. The motor 7 is preferably a reversible motor equipped with a reversing switch as is well known in the art. The rolls 3 and 4 are driven in the usual conventional manner by means of a drive shaft in the wringer post 6 and suitable gearing in the wringer head 5.

The instant invention effects its control over the wringer roll operation by way of an electrical circuit including the drive motor 7. Motor control means are included in such circuit, and means are mounted in a convenient location on thte wringer to trigger those motor control means in response to a mechanical movement or to a sound of predetermined level, or both may be utilized in the same installation if desired. Many variations of trigger means can be employed and by way of example We have illustrated an example of mechanical trigger means as well as an example of trigger means responsive to sound.

The mechanical trigger means, in the present instance, is shown associated with a pair of pivotal pressure re- The bars 8 and 9 are interconnected by a cross member 10 so that they will operate together in parallelism and a push or pull on either bar will serve to release pressure between the wringer rolls 3 and 4, as is well known in the art. The crossmember 10 will remain horizontal during movement of the release bars and will move downwardly, as viewed in FIGURE 2, due to parallelism of the release bar pivot points.

In this instance, the crossmember 10 is provided with a projection 11 having an arcuate end thereon. A microswitch 12 is mounted in an adjacent position upon the frame of the wringer in any suitable manner, and a spring 13 connected to the case of the switch 12 overlies the switch button and terminates in an arcuate end 14 complemental to the end of the projection 11. It will there- 'fore be seen that when one of the pressure release rods 8 or a is moved a slight extent, the spring 13 will be pressed down by projection 11 and close the microswitch. The movement to cause closing of the microswitch is insufficient to release pressure on the wringer rolls. Consequently, it is a simple expedient for the operator to touch a release bar and either reverse the direction of the rolls or stop the motor as the case may be. By reversing the motor in this manner, too bulky a load may be cleared from the wringer expeditiously.

The sound responsive trigger means are illustrated in the form of a microphone 15 mounted in any suitable location on the wringer frame or head and which microphone is connected in a known manner through an ampli ficr to trigger the motor control means upon the creation of a sound of predetermined level. That predetermined level which can be obtained by adjusting the amplifier would preferably be above the tones of voices in ordinary conversation. With the microphone, it is a simple expedient for the operator of the machine to reverse the direction of rotation of the rolls or stop the rolls by commanding the machine in a loud tone or shouting at it without the use of either hand. The rolls may be again caused to reverse direction by another voiced command, and if the rolls have been stopped, they may be started again by a voiced command or a reset switch as may be desired. The use of the sound responsive trigger means to control the motor are highly effici-ent in the event a party has her fingers or hand caught between the rollers, whereupon a scream of fright or pain would reverse them or stop them.

In FIGURE 2 we have diagrammatically shown the microphone connected in parallel by conductors 16 With the microswitch 12 to indicate both trigger means may be included in the same circuit if so desired.

In the practice of the instant invention numerous variations of motor control circuits can be utilized. By way of example therefore, and not by way of limitation, we have shown several variations in circuits in FIGURES 3 to 7 inclusive.

In the circuit of FIGURES 3 main line conductors 17 and 18 lead from a power source and are connected to the motor. A main line switch 19 controls the flow of current through the conductors 17 and 18. The aforesaid rnicroswitch 12, by way of conductors 20 and 21 is connected across the line in series with the coil of a double pole double-throw stepping relay generally indicated by numeral 22 which is connected in a known manner across the line and to the reversing switch of the motor 7. Consequently with this circuit when the microswitch is closed in the manner above described the motor control or stepping relay 22 acts to reverse the motor and thus reverse the direction of rotation of the wringer rolls. When the microswitch is again closed, the motor is reversed to its original direction and the rolls assume their original direction of rotation.

The circuit of FIGURE 4 is similar to that of FIGURE 3 with the exception that a microphone amplifier 23 is connected across the line and by conductors 24 and 25 to the coil of the stepping relay or motor control 22. The microphone 15 is connected to the amplifier in a known manner. In this instance a sound above a level predetermined by adjusting the microphone amplifier will cause the amplifier to energize the coil of the stepping relay and cause a reversal of the motor. Upon the next sound of proper amplitude, the same operation Will be repeated, the motor and wringer rolls assuming their original direction of rotation.

The circuit arrangement of FIGURE 5 contains the same elements as the circuits of FIGURES 3 and 4 and is a combination of the circuits of FIGURES 3 and 4. In this instance, the microswitch 12 is connected across the line in parallel with the microphone amplifier by conductors 26 and 27 and in series with the coil of the stepping relay 22. With this arrangement, either a closing of the microswitch 12 or the energization of the microphone amplifier by a sound of suflicient loudness will cause a reversing of the motor and likewise a reversal in direction of rotation of the wringer rolls. If desired, with this circuit arrangement the microphone amplifier may be set for a sound of relatively high level, above the noises commonly made by children in the vicinity, and relied upon solely as a safety factor to respond to a scream of pain or fright.

In the arrangement of FIGURE 6, the motor control unit is in the form of a microphone amplifier and holding relay circuit generally indicated by numeral 28 to which the line wires 17 and 18 are directly connected. A reset switch 29 is connected to the control 28 in a manner to release the holding relay and start operation again. By way of conductors 30 and 31 the control circuit 28 is connected to the machine motor 7. With a circuit of this type, when the microphone 15 picks up a noise of sufiicient loudness the amplifier will energize the holding relay and break the circuit to the motor, thus stopping the motor and wringer rolls. The motor and wringer rolls may again be started by closing the reset switch 29.

It will be clear from this particular circuit arrangement that the microswitch 1-2 could be joined with the holding relay and substituted for the microphone amplifier if the microswitch alone was desired to effect a control over the motor and wringer rolls. Or, the microswitch could be connected in parallel with the microphone amplifier and either trigger means would then control the motor. These alternatives are apparent from the circuit disclosures of FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, above described.

In the circuit of FIGURE 7, the line wires 17 and 18 are connected direct-1y to the machine motor and reversing switch 7 and the microphone amplifier and holding relay circuit 28 is connected by conductors 32 and 33 to the coil of a motor control 34 in the form of a doublepole double-throw relay. The reset switch 29 is also connected to the holding relay to release the same. With this arrangement a sound of sufficient loudness will cause the amplifier and holding relay circuit to energize the motor control relay 34 and cause a reversal of the motor as well as a reversal in direction of the wringer rolls. That condition of reversed motion will remain, however, regardless of subsequent sounds unless the reset switch 29 is closed, whereupon the motor will again reverse direction and the original direction of rotation of the wringer rolls will be restored. It is clear from the showings in FIGURES 3 and 4 that the microswitch could be substituted for the microphone amplifier in the circuit of FIGURE 7, or the microswitch could be connected in parallel with the microphone amplifier as suggested by the circuit showing of FIGURE 5.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that we have provided trigger means for controlling the motor circuit of a washing machine wringer which are either of the mechanically movable type or sound responsive type and either or both of which greatly add to the versatility of usage of the wringer as Well as providing a materially higher safety factor. The invention also provides a choice of a number of variations in the control circuit to provide various specific results. Moreover, the instant invention can readily be added to a conventional Washing machine and wringer assembly economically and without necessitating any but negligible changes in the conventional assembly.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be efiected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In combination,

a wringer,

compression rolls in said wringer,

a motor connected to drive said rolls,

an electrical circuit including said motor,

electrically actuated motor control means in said circuit capable of varying the operation of the motor when triggered,

a pair of trigger units connected in parallel in said circuit and disposed in a location convenient to the operator of the wringer,

one of said units being responsive to a slight movement of the operator to trigger said motor control means, and

the other unit being responsive to a sound above a predeter-mined level to trigger the motor control means.

2. In combination,

a household clothes wringer,

compression rolls in said wringer,

a motor connected to drive said rolls,

an electrical circuit including said motor,

electrically actuated motor control means in said circuit capable of reversing the operation of the motor when triggered,

a microphone in the immediate vicinity of said wringer and connected in said circuit, and

an amplifier in said circuit to trigger said motor control means in response to a sound picked up by said microphone.

3. In combination,

a wringer,

compression rolls in said wringer,

a motor connected to drive said rolls,

an electrical circuit including said motor,

electrically actuated motor control means in said circuit capable of reversing the operation of the motor when triggered,

manually operable roll pressure release means on said wringer, and

switch means in said circuit to trigger said motor control means,

said switch means being located adjacent said release means to be operated by a slight movement of said release means insufiicient to release roll pressure.

4. In combination,

a wringer,

compression rolls in said wringer,

a reversible motor connected to drive said rolls,

an electrical circuit including said motor,

electrically actuated motor control means in said circuit capable of reversing the motor when triggered, and

trigger means in said circuit located in the immediate vicinity of said Wringer and responsive to sound above a predetermined level to trigger said motor control means.

5. In combination,

a wringer,

compression rolls in said wringer,

a reversible motor connected to drive said rolls,

an electrical circuit including said motor,

motor control means in said circuit capable of reversing the motor when triggered,

manually movable roll pressure release means on said wringer, and.

a microswitch mounted in the path of movement of said pressure release means and operable upon a slight movement of said release means insufficient to release roll pressure to trigger said motor control means.

6. In combination,

a wringer,

compression rolls in said wringer,

a reversible motor connected to drive said rolls,

an electrical circuit including said motor,

motor control means in said circuit capable of reversing the motor when triggered, and

a pair of trigger units connected in parallel in said circuit and each of which is capable of triggering said motor control means,

one of said units being responsive to manual movement, and

the other unit being responsive to sound above a predetermined level.

7. The combination of claim 6 including a holding relay in circuit with said motor control means to maintain the reversed condition of motor operation and a reset switch in circuit with said holding relay to restore motor operation to its original condition.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 18,436 4/1932 Vorndieke 68-258 1,465,348 8/1923 Cox 68--253 1,734,732 11/ 1929 Kranz 68-253 1,910,217 5/1933 Hadfield --53 2,134,779 11/1938 Dietz 68-253 2,216,745 10/1940 Kauifrnan 68-253 2,434,367 1/1948 Mofiatt et al 68--253.3 X 2,995,866 8/1961 Johnson 46-244 LOUIS O. MAASSEL, Primary Examiner, 

2. IN COMBINATION, A HOUSEHOLD CLOTHES WRINGER, COMPRESSION ROLLS IN SAID WRINGER, A MOTOR CONNECTED TO DRIVE SAID ROLLS, AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT INCLUDING SAID MOTOR, ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED MOTOR CONTROL MEANS IN SAID CIRCUIT CAPABLE OF REVERSING THE OPERATION OF THE MOTOR WHEN TRIGGERED, A MICROPHONE IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF SAID WRINGER AND CONNECTED IN SAID CIRCUIT, AND 